A state court in Texas has issued a temporary restraining order barring what is alleged to be a $1.5 million bonus payment to the president and chief executive officer of Rex Performance Products in Marysville.

According to a news release, a lawsuit filed on the behalf of Rex Performance Products by lawyer Darrell W. Cook of Dallas alleges that James Donald Tate, of Keller, Texas, negotiated a secret side deal with Pregis LLC of Deerfield, Illinois, to drive down the purchase price paid by Pregis.

In a news release last week, Pregis announced the acquisition of Rex Performance Products for an undisclosed amount.

Founded in 2011, RPP manufactures industrial packaging products — such as the foam used to package products such as television sets. It employs about 85 people locally.

According to the news release issued Tuesday, Tate met in January with Olympus Partners, a Connecticut-based private equity firm that owns Pregis.

After the meeting, Tate allegedly reported Olympus was offering $3 million less than what Rex Performance wanted.

According to the lawsuit, Tate allegedly negotiated a $1.5 million bonus for himself and others in exchange for driving down the purchase price.

The lawsuit seeks more than $1 million in damages. A hearing has been scheduled for Friday.

Phone calls have been made to Pregis seeking comment.

The restraining order was issued Feb. 26 in 141st District Court in Tarrant County. The lawsuit is Rex Performance Products LLC vs. James Donald Tate, et al, No. 141-298129-18

Contact Bob Gross at (810) 989-6263 or rgross@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobertGross477.